A woman who was seen kicking her dog in public has been banned from owning an animal for five years.

Sarah Williams, who was sentenced at Birkenhead Magistrates’ Court today, was given a five-year disqualification order, a 12-month community order and told to pay costs of £410 after pleading guilty in October to one count of causing unnecessary suffering to the dog.

Williams, 31, of Withens Lane, Wallasey, was seen by a member of the public angrily kicking her Jack Russell dog, named Harvey, so hard that his front paws lifted off the floor.

RSPCA inspector Anthony Joynes, who investigated the case, said: “We received a call about this incident in July this year. “When I interviewed Williams, she admitted that she had kicked the dog and that she did so because he was pulling on his lead.

“She said she only did it once and that she apologised to the dog afterwards, but this is no excuse for subjecting an innocent animal to such violence. It is very lucky that Harvey was not seriously injured. Harvey was clearly petrified of her and did not want to go anywhere near her. He resented any sort of movement towards the head and was terrified of any sudden movement or noise.

“As soon as Harvey was taken in to the RSPCA’s care, his behaviour immediately started to improve. Harvey has now been re-homed into a home where he gets the love that he deserves.”